Career Advice#ChristmasChallenge18 – Five great causes you could give to this Christmas

#ChristmasChallenge18 – Five great causes you could give to this Christmas

by Michael Cheary

Want to give big this Christmas? We can help with that…

Since the Big Give launched the campaign in 2008, the Christmas Challenge has raised over £98 million for more than 2,800 charity projects.

With this year’s Christmas Challenge launching at 12PM on the 27th of November, now’s the perfect time to get involved and help make a difference to #ChristmasChallenge18.

What is the Big Give?

The Big Give is a non-profit organisation, which provides a platform for individuals to discover charities and make donations.

They also offer the opportunity to double your donations throughout the year, through match funding campaigns – the biggest of which being the Christmas Challenge.

What is the Christmas Challenge?

The Christmas Challenge is the UK’s biggest online match funding campaign, which helps UK-registered charities raise funds for their cause.

Projects span everything from water and sanitation in Africa, and child poverty in London, to the arts, education and more – so you’re sure to find a cause that you are passionate about.

Discover. Donate. Double. It’s that simple.

Ready to get your donation doubled? Here are five great causes you could be giving to during #ChristmasChallenge18:

Be Child Cancer Aware

Who they are: Be Child Cancer Aware is dedicated to raising awareness of the signs and symptoms of all cancers in children, teenagers and young adults. Young lives are being lost every year, partly due to a severe lack of understanding of the disease. By keeping people better informed of the warning signs, more children will be given a fighting chance.

What they do: Aside from increasing awareness, the charity also allows children to deal with the disease and tell their story. Their Beads of Courage programme provides young cancer suffers with beads that symbolise their incredible bravery during different milestones, such as blood transfusions, bone marrow transplants, chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

Why you should donate: Beads of Courage supports over 30,000 children with serious illnesses worldwide – helping them understand and get to grips with their illness. And, by making people more aware of the signs, more young lives can be saved.

In their own words: ‘Our Beads of Courage helps children to take ownership of their journey and make sense of what they’re going through in a very visible way. The beads gives them a tool to explain it to themselves and others, adults, medical professionals, brothers, sisters, friends and says to everybody “this is my story, this is what I’m doing – it’s not nice but I’m strong and I will get through it”.’

International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW)

Who they are: IFAW’s mission is to rescue and protect animals around the world. With projects in more than 40 countries, IFAW provides hands-on assistance to animals in need, whether it’s dogs and cats, wildlife and livestock, or rescuing animals following disasters. They also advocate saving populations from cruelty and depletion, such as ending commercial whaling and seal hunting.

What they do: Their Community Led Animal Welfare (CLAW) treats at least 4000 animals every single month. One of their current projects involves protecting the wildlife of Malawi from poaching. Without these measures, Africa’s engangered elephants, rhinos, and other species are likely to continue being killed illegally.

Why you should donate: Their vision is a world where animals are respected and protected. In some areas, they are the only animal welfare organisation serving impoverished communities and their domestic animals. Your money will help continue their fight against animal cruelty, and ultimately save the lives of thousands of animals.

In their own words: ‘Do something wonderful this Christmas. Donate to IFAW, and save the lives of animals – in Malawi, and beyond.’

Contact the Elderly

Who they are: Contact the Elderly is a national charity which aims to alleviate loneliness amongst isolated older people aged 75 and over. Since they were established, they’ve supported over 100,000 elderly guests – and want to continue to ensure individuals have a place to socialise and connect with each other, so they no longer feel so alone.

What they do: Each month, a group of older guests are taken by their volunteer drivers for afternoon tea in a volunteer’s home. Over time friendships are made and relationships formed, giving elderly people something to really look forward to each month – as well as a vital support system

Why you should donate: In our ageing population the problem of isolation among elderly people is growing. In fact, it’s forecasted that over 2 million will be isolated by 2021. To put it simply, without groups like Contact the Elderly, millions of older people could remain isolated, cut off and forgotten.

In their own words: ‘Edith is 93 and lives alone. For days on end, her only contact is with her care workers. They’re nice, but rarely have time to talk. So Edith sits and remembers, reverting to memories to cope with her lonely existence. We don’t want a world of 2 million Ediths. Donate what you can and help ensure older people don’t feel quite so alone’.

Advocate

Who they are: Set up 20 years ago by a group of barristers, Advocate are the only national charity which can provide a volunteer barrister in any court or tribunal, on any area of law, across England and Wales.

What they do: Deliver core free legal advice and representation, to help people across the UK who can’t afford to pay their own legal fees.

Why you should donate: The increasing number of vulnerable people facing court alone because they have no way of paying for expert legal help. They might be struggling to see their children, be close to losing their home, have been defrauded or be facing an employment or immigration tribunal alone. Without proper legal advice and representation, people have much less chance of justice.

In their own words: ‘On average, we hear from 50 new people every week facing a complicated legal problem alone. We can help make a difference – and, ultimately, save vulnerable people from the incredible stress of trying to present their legal case to a judge alone.’

The Rainforest Foundation

Who they are: The mission of the Rainforest Foundation is to support indigenous people and traditional populations of the world’s rainforests in their efforts to protect their environment and fulfil their rights to land, life and livelihood.

What they do: Instead of evicting local people from protected areas such as National Parks in Africa’s rainforests, they want to work with them, train them, and use their presence and knowledge to help strengthen conservation of the rainforest.

Why you should donate: RFUK has 25 years of experience in managing projects in tropical countries, including 18 years in the Congo Basin promoting community rights to land and resources, and supporting community participation.

In their own words: ‘The rainforest is a home, a habitat, a shelter, a pharmacy, a supermarket and an ecosystem that supports many lives and livelihoods. Yet most forest dependent people are unable to defend the lands on which they live from forest destruction, land theft and resource exploitation. Your donation – no matter how small – can help us change this.’

The Christmas Challenge 2018 will be taking place from midday on 27th November until midday on 4th December or until match funds are exhausted, whichever is first. Don’t miss the opportunity to make your money have twice the impact on a charity of your choice this Christmas.

For more information on how to donate to the Big Give Christmas Challenge 2018, click here.

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